The LSU Board of Supervisors will consider tightening rules that govern the award of scholarships by its members after sharp criticism of the program by the Legislative Auditor’s Office.
Among key changes the supervisors will consider when they meet on Friday: Reducing the number of awards each member can make under the board scholarship program and more clearly defining criteria for the awards.
In 2012-2013, board members handed out more than $1.3 million in scholarships in the form of tuition waivers under the program.
“These proposed changes will strengthen the program and its implementation, while preserving the intended purpose to support students in their academic pursuits at LSU,” says board Chairwoman Ann Duplessis.
The scholarship program—which has allowed each board member to award up to 20 scholarships per year—has come under closer scrutiny in recent years.
In 2013, the Legislature approved a law requiring board members make public the names of their recipients, which were previously kept private. Then, last year the legislative auditor issued a report criticizing the program for sloppy bookkeeping and lack of specific award criteria.
According to LSU, the scholarships have been awarded at the discretion of individual supervisors. Students receiving a scholarship under Louisiana’s free tuition program known as TOPS are not eligible to receive an additional scholarship for the fall and spring semesters under the supervisors program.
In the months since the auditor’s report, board staff has been working on revisions to the program.
The biggest change reduces the number of awards each of the 16 board members can hand out from 20 to 18 for the 2015-2016 academic year and to 15 beginning in 2016-2017. The board also would have to establish criteria for the awards as well as timelines for receiving and reviewing applications. The board’s scholarship committee would be required to submit periodic data for review by the full Board of Supervisors.
Duplessis says the changes will strengthen the program.
“So many students and families have benefitted from these scholarships over the years,” she says. “The board wants to ensure its continued viability and applicability in consideration of the needs of students and the university.”
The supervisors meet at 1 p.m. Friday at the LSU Administration Building. Committees meet earlier in the day.
—Stephanie Riegel
